If they charge over 10/seed i don't even look at the company. They are price-gouging shit-heels.
Even 10/seed is a total rip off. When i breed tiny 30-40g plants i can get 1000+ seeds. Costs 20-25 USD in electricity at a terribly high rate in my region, lol, and that'll cover 4-6 pollen receivers and multiple thousands of seeds under a 150w light.
I've overspent on seed before. You feel a little buyer's remorse and you get over it. Some of the best plants i've seen so far came from inhouse genetics, but i would never pay their prices again. And, they weren't perfect. They were frosty and potent, but weren't the tastiest, too.
Low germination rate could be really, really old seeds, but could also be human error. if you have an elaborate process, revert to something simpler. The seeds i made 2+ years ago still sprout ~100% and they are stored in ziplock bag a desk drawer, so nothing fancy there. Some of the seed i sprouted this run were nearly 5 years old. They all sprouted, too. no gimicks, no hormones, no soaking - just direct to substrate. a heat mat with thermostat is worth it if in a cold area.